Repair Or Replace A Dripping Faucet

A Dripping Faucet

A dripping faucet can be a major annoyance, particularly when you cannot seem to locate the source of the leak. Apart from wasting precious water and costing you $20 – $200 every year in wasted water, leaky faucets can lead to much more expensive structural and water damages.

A leaky faucet also represents another dilemma – should you repair or replace it? If your home has a damaged faucet, it helps to know whether you need to repair or replace it. Continue reading to find out your answer.

Signs of A Damaged Faucet

Here are some signs of a damaged faucet.

●Leaking faucet. A dripping faucet can be a common plumbing issue. However, if your faucet is continuously dripping, you might have a damaged faucet. Continuous dripping is typically due to a broken valve or high water pressure.

●Spitting faucet. Normally functioning faucets should release a continuous stream of water. However, if your faucet has an irregular water flow, there could be some damages. A spitting faucet is usually due to some kind of internal faucet damage.

●Squeaking faucet. If the handle of your faucet squeaks when you turn the water on, there could be damages necessitating urgent repair. In certain cases, a squeaky faucet requires a little greasing. If that doesn’t solve the problem, you need to call in a plumber.

When to Repair a Leaky Faucet?

The actual problem with your faucet is what ascertains whether you need a quick fix or a more comprehensive replacement. If you aren’t sure what the issue with your faucet is, or if you need to replace or repair it, you need to seek help from a faucet repair expert.

1. Worn Out O-Ring

There is a small ring, known as an O-ring, placed inside your faucet. As time passes, O-rings typically wear out or become loose. Fortunately, this is a simple fix and doesn’t need replacement.

2. Corrosion on the Valve Seat

The faucets valve seat is located between the spout and the faucet. As time passes, mineral deposits and sediment starts to build up, corroding the valve seat. This can lead to a damaged faucet. If there is only minimal build-up, you can get it fixed with a quick repair instead of investing in lengthy repairs.

3. Damaged Washer

The washer placed inside a faucet goes through plenty of wear and tear. Each time you switch the faucet on or off, the washer presses against the valve seat. This constant friction damages the washer, resulting in a leaky faucet. Many people tighten the faucet to prevent dripping. However, this just compresses the washer more, leading to further damage and ultimately wearing it out much sooner. Luckily, getting a new washer is a fairly easy task.

4. Washer Installation Problems

Another common cause of leaky faucets is incorrectly installed washers. This points towards why it is important to hire an experienced and professional plumbing job, no matter how small it is. If your washers are not seated or installed correctly, or if they aren’t the perfect size, you will soon end up with a dripping faucet and will have to call a professional to fix it.

When to Replace a Leaky Faucet?

Faucets are not designed to last forever. In fact, your faucets will break down from use over time. The older the model, the less likely it can work properly, which can lead to extremely high water bills. Moreover, if your house runs on hard water, your plumbing’s lifespan can reduce drastically. Keep in mind that replacing the whole appliance can be pretty expensive. This is why it is important to know when you need to replace a dripping faucet. Here are some signs indicating you need to replace a damaged faucet.

1. Your Faucet’s Age

The best way to determine if you need to replace a faucet is by knowing its age. Generally, faucets are designed to last for 15 to 20 years. If your faucet is approaching the end of its lifespan, you should think about getting a replacement.

2. Your Faucet Breaks Down Frequently

Another sign highlighting it’s time to replace your faucet is when it requires continuous repairs to function. A couple of repairs here and there are generally always cost-effective than a full-blown replacement. However, if the repairs start piling up, you can just save your money by replacing the faucet.

3. Your Faucet is Not Too Efficient

Older models tend to waste a high amount of water. This can be anywhere between 3 to 5 gallons every minute. If you want to lower your utility costs, you should invest in modern faucets that don’t run any more than 2.5 gallons per minute.

4. Damaged Counter or Sink Surface

There might be no problem with your faucet. However, if your counter or sink is damaged, your faucet might need replacement. Certain materials like ceramic age poorly and can lead to scratches and cracks.

5. Upgrade Your Space

Perhaps you don’t want to bear the full cost of a kitchen upgrade or bathroom remodel. However, you might want to give the space a cost-effective makeover. Maybe your bathroom sink is still in perfect condition, but the chrome on the faucet is peeling off and decreasing the visual appeal of your space.

In such situations, replacing the faucets with something sleeker, such as a faucet with a waterfall spout, immediately upgrades the room without becoming too expensive or needing too much time, or creating a mess.

Contact King Heating Today

A dripping faucet wastes thousands of gallons of water, significantly increases your water bill, and causes damage to your house. Our plumbers are full-service plumbing experts serving Chicago and surrounding areas. They can guide you on whether to install a new kitchen faucet, or replace a bathroom faucet when needed.